Dylan Moran has spoken about how playing improvised music has helped him alleviate the loneliness he often feels when he is touring the world with his stand-up act.
The comedian (52) has been playing gigs across the globe on and off for the past two years and has been incorporating improvised musical interludes into his live show.
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Dylan Moran explains to @Tommedian how he has added improvised musical performances into his gigs with mixed results 🎹 😃#TommyTiernanShow pic.twitter.com/51zfIehlOt
Speaking on The Tommy Tiernan Show on Saturday night where he was the first surprise guest of the new season, the Navan-born funnyman said, "Well, you know we all spend a lot of time alone, you spend a lot of time alone, in the car in-between gigs.
"You spend a lot of time in the rehearsal room of your skull. So, you know the sound of your own footfall when things are askew [and] when things are all right.
"When the world looks wonky. When it should have stopped raining by now so you're not seeing things right. And it gets lonely and it makes you a bit funny in the head and I feel a bit tired about it, if I am being honest with you."
Moran, who starred in hit Channel 4 sitcom Black Books, added, "I have something at home. A keyboard - a stupid child's one. It lights up to tell you where to hit; I still can't figure it out!"
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Dylan Moran, Sarah De Lagarde, Sean Ronayne, MC Fred Cooke with music from Huun Huur Tu
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"I've played everywhere. I've played all over the world. I used to tell the audience I've played in Vienna because there are amazing musicians there. It is all improvised, yeah, because I can't play the same thing twice. I wouldn't know how!"
Moran then took out his phone and played a sample of his music, recorded at one of his gigs, to fellow comedian Tiernan, who he has known since they went to school together in Navan.
The impromptu piano tune with makeshift percussion was called 1, 2, 3, 4. "See, that was music," Moran said straight-faced. "I was thrilled with this. I had no idea I could. This is genius!"
There was no studio audience for the first show of the new season of The Tommy Tiernan Show with many viewers in favour of the change.
The new season of the show will have a 12-week run.
You can catch up with Saturday night's show on the RTÉ Player.
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